The Gamer Duo is coming soon to Apple retail stores ... where it will likely stay put.

Popular mobile developer Gameloft has announced what's now the first Apple-certified Bluetooth game controller on the market: The Duo Gamer. And while the device might not be the schizophrenic Nintendo-DS-themed superhero its name suggests, it may end up being just as unwelcome in people's closets when they learn the details.

The Duo Gamer is hitting shelves at a hefty $80, possibly a fair price considering that it will be the first mainstream controller to work natively with the iPad's Bluetooth connectivity - unlike the popular iCade - but here's the rub: The Duo Gamer will only be compatible with Gameloft games, and to make matters worse, only five of them: Asphalt 7: Heat, Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front, Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation, N.O.V.A. 3, and Order & Chaos Online.

Though Gameloft titles are traditionally, well, "inspired" by popular games, they're typically pretty dang good for what they are. And while the harsh limitations on the company's new controller will likely be a deal breaker for some, it's hard to deny that seeing your iPad as a wee little TV with its own controller is at least sort of cool. Still, with such a teeny stable paired against hefty price tag, its hard to imagine the Duo Gamer achieving what's supposed to be easier than earning a spot on Apple's coveted retail shelves: getting off of them.

So the part where this thing only works with 5 games is stupid enough but there's something even more ridiculous. The fact that you're getting a wireless controller for a handheld.So you hold the controller in your hand, and then what do you do with the iPhone itself? Leave it on your lap? Can't do that if you're standing. Why can't we just have controller which the iPhone plugs into, kind of like the second analog stick for the 3ds.

Theminimanx:Why can't we just have controller which the iPhone plugs into, kind of like the second analog stick for the 3ds.

You, mean, something like the existing iControlPad?And that also works with Android and just about any device that supports Bluetooth.You guys should rather check out the iControlPad 2 that's kicking around on Kickstarter now, same basic principle, but with a built in keyboard at roughly the same size (I think it's actually smaller?). It also flips out from the back of your phone, and is fully supported by an open source community, so you're not limited to 5 games only...

Wow, they must really be banking on people being willing to buy anything at any price so long as it is on a shelve at an Apple store. That thing looks like controller design suddenly regressed by about 30 years or so.

It cost me $1.24 to hook up my PS3 controller to my Android Phone. It would have cost me $0.00 if I had decided to just root the phone instead and use it as a bluetooth connection. I fell sorry for anyone that is silly enough to actually buy one of these things.

Theminimanx:So the part where this thing only works with 5 games is stupid enough but there's something even more ridiculous. The fact that you're getting a wireless controller for a handheld.So you hold the controller in your hand, and then what do you do with the iPhone itself? Leave it on your lap? Can't do that if you're standing. Why can't we just have controller which the iPhone plugs into, kind of like the second analog stick for the 3ds.

Because they come out with a new iWhatever every year or so, they all tend to have different dimensions so it would be hard to make a standardized controller that you could use from one device to the next. They would have to create a special design for each new device, and this would take time and effort. When you only have a small portion of your consumer base that are going to be buying the controller then it is easier to just standardize a wireless controller.

FinalDream:Why don't Gameloft just port their games to the Vita? I've seen some, but they are old ones and nothing too recent.

Gameloft ports games to the iOS from the DS and vice versa. They also make iOS versions of titles like Driver and Assassin's Creed. The also ripoff old IPs (Ganstar playing exactly like GTA 1 &2) The PSVita, with what few games it has, has games that look worlds better than anything on an iPhone or iPad. Putting Gameloft games on that thing would lose them money because their games would look horrible in comparison if they were ported.

For the most part. The Ashphalt racing games look great, but that game plays like a mini game. They would have to remake their games for the Vita rather than port.

Frozengale:It cost me $1.24 to hook up my PS3 controller to my Android Phone. It would have cost me $0.00 if I had decided to just root the phone instead and use it as a bluetooth connection. I fell sorry for anyone that is silly enough to actually buy one of these things.

I second this. Sure using a wireless pad for a smartphone feels really silly, but at least I use a high quality controller that costs a lot less than this POS.

Those who use apple products but have even the least bit of tech savvy already have something to accomplish this so native support does nothing.

Plus they've already jailbroken their devices so they can enjoy the full potential of their device and also make life easier (Seriously; how SBSettings is NOT approved by apple just boggles the mind! Having settings toggles in the notification centre is a feature you never realized you couldn't live without until you use it!)

Apple could have a standard API for the iCade and this, they both work through bluetooth. Adding support for iCade can be tricky, depending on how the game was written. Having something that just bolts in and allows input from these would be ideal. Personally, I like the iCade, it's especially good for retro games, like Medway Arcade, and the C64 and Spectrum emulator game packs support it too. I'd be hard pressed to change from the traditional arcade stick and mini-cabinet you get with an iCade - that $80 would be better put towards a Vita or something like that.

Frozengale:It cost me $1.24 to hook up my PS3 controller to my Android Phone. It would have cost me $0.00 if I had decided to just root the phone instead and use it as a bluetooth connection. I fell sorry for anyone that is silly enough to actually buy one of these things.

This.

You know, I enjoyed almost five years of iWhatever joy, but I feel like I've been battling my own iDevices for basic functionality over and over again, for at least ten years. Apple gave me grey hair, pimples and a stomach irritation.

With every new iteration of the iOS, we got a bunch of necessary and much needed fixes, but, as with their pussylicious computer OS, they kept breaking things that really didn't need any breaking.

Let's face the facts: Apple really doesn't like to pay anyone else for... anything, really. They seem to hate having to put up with paying for licenses of established, good technology. Just about all my wireless, bluetooth and browsing needs on iPhone I do with third party software Apple, more often than not, actually banned and kicked off their App Store.

Experiencing Android after five years of iOS feels like total, utter, mindblowing freedom. It feels like a walk in the park, bare feet touching the grass. iOS wasn't just a jail, it was the computing equivalent of being buried alive.

I am very, very disappointed in Apple. They made my life easier in the days before/of Windows 95. They made some of the most iconic and sturdiest little computer box slaves back in the days. Then things got colourful, people got excited and everything turned to shiny shit.

Huh. That actually does look like a pretty cool peice of kit. Of course, it's not gonna actually get made because that would make the gaming companies lose profit from controller sales, and the executives need that swimming pool of diamonds. And sorry about my earlier anti-Apple remark, I probably should have researched it a bit more.

Huh. That actually does look like a pretty cool peice of kit. Of course, it's not gonna actually get made because that would make the gaming companies lose profit from controller sales, and the executives need that swimming pool of diamonds. And sorry about my earlier anti-Apple remark, I probably should have researched it a bit more.

It's not about bashing Apple or not. But they need to be bashed for their actual screw up.As for Cameron - one said once the made a deal with the devil: he will make Cameron's movies more and more successfull in exchange for his sanity... or was that Lucas?Cheers!:D